The Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) is to purchase two new Bell-412 helicopters, Sri Lankan defence sources have said.

Three SLAF senior officials are in Texas, US, to discuss the preliminary work of the acquisition.

LankaPage also reported that the SLAF is in need of the helicopters as some of the service’s existing helicopters are encountering technical problems.

The Bell 412 is a utility / VIP transport helicopter which was initially introduced to the air force in 1985.

The SLAF operates eight Bell 412 helicopters in its fleet.